"Learn" the story of the
postmaster Stechinelli and discover the varied landscape of the Südheide.
Historic
bike tour
This journey takes you back in time to
the 17th century.
It is the time when mail was transported
by stagecoach. An important postal route led from Hanover through the
breathtakingly beautiful landscape of Lueneburg Heath to the Hanseatic city of
Hamburg.
Who
was Stechinelli?
Francesco Maria Capellini, known as
"Stechinelli" (toothpick) because of his thin legs, was a favorite of
the Dukes of Welf. On their behalf he developed a postal system in the
Principality of Lueneburg that co-existed with the Imperial Post Office, which was
operated by Thurn and Taxis.
Stagecoaches
and sandy heath paths
The roads of the old days demanded a great
deal from travellers and material alike. The stagecoaches made slow progress on
the sandy heathland and so many axles broke on the way. However, the mail route
was not meant to cause passengers discomfort. Rather, they should be able to
enjoy the beauty of the landscape.
Thanks to Hereditary Postmaster General Stechinelli, a post road was constructed that made a carefree journey possible.
That is what makes Stechinelli so popular until today.
The post office set up by Hereditary
Postmaster General Stechinelli provides an interesting historical basis for the
cycle path. The route follows parts of the former post road.
A bike tour with nature and history
Special
attention was paid to scenic attractions and historical accuracy when the route
was planned. Nature and history unite on this route in a wonderful manner and
give it a very special charm.
Where does the bike tour start?
Starting
point of the 165 km long cycle path is Bispingen in Lueneburg Heath Nature Park,
from where it leads through idyllic heathland to Wieckenberg in the glacial
valley of the Aller.
The
landscape along the route is simple and varied. Large and small deciduous
forests, crystal-clear heath rivers, green meadows, wide fields and the occasional
heathland off the main route provide a great experience of nature. In the small heathlands that lie along the
route, you will no doubt discover one or two cultural treasure worthy of protection.
Some
places still have old post offices and watermills. The open-air museum in
Winsen (Aller) is especially worth seeing. The heath village of Wietze will
surprise you with old oil derricks, while the historic Stechinelli Church next
to Stechinelli’s former estate of in Wieckenberg is simple on the outside but surprisingly
ornate on the inside.